Vine cutter



May 3, 1932. w. A. sERlGH'r 1,857,005

VINE CUTTER A Filed Feb. 2v, 1951 4 shetg-sheet 1 ATTORNEY Wli'ewmgn WN E May 3, 1932. w, A. sERlGHT y 1,857,006

VINE CUTTER y Filed Feb. 27, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY May 3j, 1932.

VINE CUTT W. A. SERIGHT.

Filed Feb. 27, 1931 4 She'etS-Sheet 3 MM TTTTT f May 3, 1932. w. A. sE'RlGHT VINE CUTTER 4 Sheet'S-Sheet Filed Feb. 27, 1931 W/L'er SZW/Q ATTORNEY' Patented May 3, 1932 wAnREN aisnnrennonFRUTLAND,IOWA r l VINE CUTTER Appnetin ieaebruary 27, 1931. `serial No. 518,856.

This invention relates to improvements in vine cutting machines, especially adapted for cutting sweet potato vines, and 'has for anobj'ect the provision of a machine which will cut the vvines longitudinally along opposite edges of a rowand direct the cut vines inward into the ath of a transverse cutting member, means eing providedfor holding the vines during thetransverse cutting opermation.

Another object of the invention isy the provision of a machine which 'includes a main wheel supported frame and a cutting frame, `the latter carrying mechanism -'or cuttingthe vines and arranging and holding them in position forfcutting, together with iiexible means for operating the cutting mechanism from power derived Vfrom the supporting wheels, so that the cutting mechanism may be raised to aniinactive position, or lowered into an active position -without disconnecting said Acutting mechanism from its power.

Another object of the inventionis the prohvision of a machine which in addition-to the above and other advantageous eatures,is simple in construction, reliable-and efficient in use, and may be adjusted to suitvarious conditions.

With the above and other objects in view,

the'invention further includes the following,

novel features and details ofconstructiom-to be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated inthe accompanying drawings and pointed out in the appended claims. In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of a vinelcutting machine constructedin accordance with o.the invention, a portion of one of the side members of` the main wheel supported trame being broken away and the hammock seat` sho-wnin section. n. y

Figure2-is atop-planview.V Y

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the 'line Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view rillustrating lthe cutting operation.l f

-R-eferringto th drawings-in detail wherein like'characters of reference-denote corresponding parts, theinvention as shown com--A prises a main' wheel supported Yframe* which includes parallelI side bars 10. These bars are connected' at their forward ends rby'means of inclined rods 11,`-the latter serving as a connection with a draft tongue V12, which extends rearward and 'is' connected lby meansot-a clamp 13 with-a yokefor axle 14s-upon' the outer ends 1 of which vare mounted freely rotatable wheels 15.

Thehubs 16 of the wheels 15 are provided with sockets j17 Vand these sockets are adapted to receive pins 18 which extend kfrom sprockets 19,-the latter being movable axiallyof'the extended ends of the axle ltso as to lock the wheels upon Vthev axle. A.clutch is thus provided which maybecontrolled: by a shifting lever 20, each of these 'levers being pivotally secured` as shown at 21, to al brackety 22 which is Vclamped upon opposite sides of the axle 14. Pivotally connected to the upper-ends of'the'levers -20 are con# n'ecting :rodsA 23 and the yopposite ends of these rods are pivotally secured asat 24-4 to a lever'25. This lever is mounted for'pivotal movement asshown a`t26y at' a point be'- tweenthe pivotal connections v211, so that by rocking' the'le'ver'725 in one direction, the clutches-maybedisengagedso that the wheels 15 will be free ofthe sprockets-'19, While movementfof the lever 25 in an opposite'fdirection lwill ser-ve 'to lock the wheelsV and sprockets together.4

The sprockets 19 operate chains 27 and these chains operate sprocket wheels 28 which are mounted uponlthe outer end'of the axle sections arranged within an-,axle'housing 3() carried vby the main frame'. Thesey axle sections are connected by a differential mechanism 31 so vas to compensate 'for'the dili'erence in speed of rotation of the'wheels when Y makinga turn. l V V In addition 'to the main `fr'ame,thev invention yincludes a v cutting frame. This latter-k frame includes parallel side members `32, from fwhich extend yforwardly and .inwardly .section 37 so as to drive a relatively long shaft section 3,8 which extends rearwardly;

` The shaft'section E38-extends through a substantially vertically disposed bearing bracket 39 and carries a crank arm 40. The upper end of the bracket 39 has extendingtherefrom a stud 41 upon which is mounted an anti-friction roller 42 and the latter operates adjustably secured to the side bars 10 of the within a slot 43 provided in asubstantially vertically disposed knife arm or carrier 44. A spring 45 which is arranged within the slot 43 serves tov yieldingly hold the stud and roller'41 and 42 in the upper end of the slot 43. Theknife arm 44 is provided with an additional slot 46 within which extends a stud 47 which is carried by the crank arm 40 and an anti-friction roller 48 which is mounted upon this stud. The lower end of the arm 44 carries a knife 49.

The knife 49 extends downwardly between spaced rollers 50 and 51. These rollers are mounted at the opposite ends of bars 52 Whose forward ends are adjustably connected as at 53 to the side bars 32 by means of hangers 54. Hangers 55 serve to support the rear end of the bars 52 and these hangers are slotted as shown at v56 to receive guide blocks 57 which are carried by the bars 32 of the cutting frame. Springs 58 which Vare mounted in the slots 56 serve to yieldingly force the rear ends ofthe bars 52 downward and consequently hold the roller 51 in yielding contact with the ground. These rollers 5() and 51 are provided withmarginal flanges 59 so that the rollers may pass over the vines without unduly mashing the latter.-

' Adjustably mounted at theforward endsA of the bars 33 upon opposite sides of the machine as indicated at 60 are standards 61. These standards carry at their lower ends disks or like cutting elements 62. Inclined bars 63 connect the standards 61V with the hangers 54 and serve to brace the disks 62. In addition, these bars 63 carry rake teeth 64.

The axle housing 30has its opposite ends main frame and for this purpose, the axle housing has' extending upwardly therefrom, arms 65. 'Ihese arms are slidable and are y; adjustably secured in bearing brackets 66 cariedby the side bars 10 of the frame, so that the forward end of the cuttingu frame may be adjusted to ridges of any height. In addition, by connecting the cutting frame to the main frame solely through the medium of the universal joint 35, the said cutting frame maybe adjusted laterally, or it may be raised and held in raised poistion without having'to disconnect the driving mechanism from the cutting mechanism. In'order' to hold the cutting frame and its mechanism in raised position as shown in Figure 4 of the drawings, the cutting frame carries hooks 67 for detachable engagement with the axle 14.

The cutting frame has adjustably mounted thereon foot strapsf68 while a hammock seat 69 hasits opposite ends detachably mounted upon hooks 70 which are carried by adjustably mounted sleeves 71 which are movable longitudinally of the side bars 10 of the main wheel supported frame.

vWith the clutches engaged, forward movement of the machine will cause the cutting disks to cut thevines `longitudinally upon opposite sides of the row and will in addition, cut a furrow in the ground. The disks'extend laterally beyond the ends of the rollers 50 and 51, while the bars 63 which Vcarry the rake fingers 64 incline inwardly and rearwardly, so that the foremostV of Athese fingers will pick up the outermost vines and direct them inward, while the rearmost lingers will place the vines within the ends of the rollers. The vines will thus be arranged longitudinally of the row in the path of the rollers. Operation of .the shaft 38 will impartfreciprocatory swinging movementv to the knife arm 44, movement of the arm from right to left in Figure 3 of the drawings, causing the knife to pick up the vines and to pass transversely therethrough, the vines being permitted only limited movement due to their engagement by the rollers 50 and 51. After the knife has reached the limit of its cutting stroke, the crank arm 40 will be positioned in the upper end of the slot 46, continued movement of the crank arm raising the knife arm so` that the knife will be elevated above the vines dur-` ing its reverse or idle movement. When the knife reaches the limit ofthis movement it will again be lowered into vine engaging position. The vines will be cut into lengths and deposited in sections S as indicated in Figure 6 of the drawings.

The invention is susceptible of various changes in its form, proportions and minor details of construction and the right is herein reserved to make such changes as properly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I-Iaving described the invention what is claimed is i 1. In a vine cutting machine, a main frame, wheels supporting the frame, ya cutting frame, vine cutting mechanism carried by the cutting frame and including a vertically disposed reciprocatory knife and means acting upon each side of the knife to hold the vines in position for cutting, operating mechanism carried by the main frame, and a universal drive connection between the main and cutting frames to operatively connect the frames and provide a driving connection between the operating mechanism and the cutting mechanism.

2. In a vine cutting machine, a main frame, wheels supporting the same, a cutting frame,

C-Tl

vine cutting mechanism carried by the cutting frame, said mechanism including a vertically disposed reciprocatory knife movable transversely of the row of vines, means to raise said knife duringmovement in one direction, and means to hold the vines in position for cutting, operating mechanism carried by the main frame, and a universal drive connection between the operating mechanism and the cutn ting mechanism.

3. In a vine cutting machine, a main frame, f

Wheels supporting the main frame, a cutting frame, vine cutting mechanism carried by the cutting frame, said mechanism including spaced rotatably mounted vine holding rollers, a knife mounted for movement between and longitudinally of said rollers, means to move the knife, and means arranged in advance of the rollers upon opposite sides of the cutting frame to direct the vines relatively inward.

4. In a vine cutting machine, a main frame, wheels supporting the main frame, a cutting frame, vine cutting mechanism carried by the cutting frame, said mechanism including spaced rotatably mounted vine holding rollers, a knife mounted for movement between and longitudinally of said rollers, means to move the knife, means carried by the cutting frame in advance of and beyond the ends of the rollers to cut the vines longitudinally of the rows, and means to direct the cut vines inward.

5. In a vine cutting machine, a main frame, Wheels supporting the main frame, a cutting frame, vine cutting mechanism carried by the cutting frame, said mechanism including spaced rotatably mounted vine holding rollers, a knife mounted for movement between and longitudinally of said rollers, means to move the knife, means carried by the cutting frame in advance of and beyond the ends of the rollers to cut the vines longitudinally of the rows, and inclined rakes located between the longitudinal cutting means and rollers to direct the Vines inward into the path of the knife.

In testimony whereof I aiiX my signature.

WARREN A. SERIGH'I. 

